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Science & Technology, Student Research

Human Cognition: Moving away from the brain

by Marc-Antoine Johnson on

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Long before Francis Schmitt coined the term “neuroscience” in 1962, scientists have been interested in demystifying the secrets of the human brain. Although neuroscience primarily focuses on the functions of the cortex—the outer layer of the brain— researchers have begun to highlight the importance of more primitive brain anatomy: Namely, the brainstem. In her recent paper, Justine Hansen, PhD candidate from The Neuro, used a novel approach to pair brainstem functions with those of the cortex.

“The brainstem isn’t really looked at in vivo [in living human participants],” said Hansen in an interview with The Tribune. “Because of that, we’re somewhat biased against thinking of the brainstem as being involved in these human-specific cognitive functions.” 

Most contemporary knowledge about the brainstem comes from animal studies, anatomy studies looking at connectivity, or lesion studies—lesions in the brain induce various deficits from which we can extract functions. However, many more methodological aspects make this research interesting.

Many studies examining brain functions exclusively look at the cortex. This is the wrinkly part most people imagine when thinking about the brain. The cortex reportedly hosts most of the mind’s cognitive functions, including memory, perception, and decision-making.

“We wanted to extend our perspective of cortical function to the brainstem. The reason we want to do that is that the brainstem is very often overlooked in a lot of these human neuroimaging studies,” Hansen said.

The current cortico-centric view of the brain poses many constraints when looking at the purpose of certain brain circuits. This perspective disregards the potential role of the brainstem’s intricate anatomy. 

“A big thing is that it’s comprehensive across the brainstem. So a lot of studies, or those already doing brain imaging studies, typically just focus on a region in the brainstem that they are interested in,” Hansen stated.

As an attempt to address some of these issues, this research also groups different anatomical brainstem areas according to their associated cortical functions. Multiple neurotransmitters are produced in the brainstem, each implicated in different functions such as arousal and awareness. These groups represent clusters of neurons producing these molecules.

Interestingly, they found that norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter downstream of adrenaline, is present across all functional groups. Norepinephrine is implicated in various functions, including arousal regulation. This omnipresence paves the way for many hypotheses about the role and importance of norepinephrine in the general integration of cognition.

“[Norepinephrine] is involved in getting the brain to work together or work in a more segregated fashion,” Hansen said. 

Hansen’s team also found a gradient in how the functions of the brainstems are correlated to those of the cortex. They discovered that the brainstem has more associations with the anterior part of the brain, including the frontal lobe and the anterior temporal lobe, implicated in higher cognitive functions like language, rather than the occipital lobe. The presence of this gradient implies that the brainstem might serve an important role that is usually attributed to the cortex in higher cognitive functions.

Although this paper is correlational and therefore does not prove causality, this type of research opens questions into the different functions of interaction between the brainstem and the cortex, especially surrounding the issue of consciousness. A coma is an altered state of consciousness and can provide valuable information on its nature.  

“Now I don’t know if I want to go that direction, but it would be another angle to look at the brainstem in a [comatose] population instead of just in a healthy population,” Hansen said.

Hansen’s research paper emphasizes the importance of researching the more primitive parts of brain anatomy to gain a deeper understanding of the beautiful intricacies of the human brain.

“I think we can stop thinking of the brainstem as just being a lizard brain implicated in breathing and keeping you alive,” Hansen noted. “Maybe it’s also involved in more higher-order functions that we usually attribute to the cortex.” 

Science & Technology

Neuroscience myths and facts: Alcohol and the spectrum of human senses

by Athina Sitou on

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If you are as curious as the rest of this Tribune special issue, then this article will hopefully answer some of your burning questions about two topics that merge neuroscience and student life seamlessly: Alcohol and human senses. In this second round of myth debunking in our Neuroscience myths and facts series, you will learn whether alcohol kills any of those brilliant neurons in your brain and whether humans only have five sensory faculties. So grab a beverage of your choice and read on about how all those 5 à 7 drinks at Gerts Bar & Café, Bar des Arts, or Blues Pub may be affecting your brain.

Does alcohol really kill the brain’s neurons?

Nuance is key when it comes to understanding the relationship between neuroscience and alcohol consumption. For starters, having a pint or two at Gerts after an exhausting exam or stressful altercation will not destroy any neurons. In fact, taking a break accompanied by any type of drink may have a positive effect on your brain and overall well-being. While some studies have shown that moderate drinking can negatively affect cognitive health, certain research suggests that responsible drinking might also have some cognitive benefits. This cohort study of 19,887 participants from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) found that low to moderate drinking may contribute to higher cognitive abilities and lower rates of cognitive decline in middle to older aged adults. So contrary to the widespread myth that alcohol is a ‘neuron murderer,’ responsible drinking rarely leads to serious neurological damage as long as basic safety precautions are in place.

However, this myth requires extra nuance because excessive drinking can prove neurotoxic, meaning it has the potential to damage nerve cells in the brain. For example, excessive alcohol consumption—defined as five or more drinks on any day for men and four or more for women by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)–may lead to neuronal cell death in specific brain regions, such as the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex. Chronic abuse can also pave the way for cognitive impairments affecting brain health over a longer period.

Do we only have five senses or are there more sensory faculties to uncover? 

Without any particular nuance needed, one of alcohol’s well-known effects is its influence on the senses. Although the “five senses” model underlies the widespread belief that we have five senses—which is partly true—it is limiting and slightly biased against the rest of the human body’s sensory systems such as the vestibular system. This restrictive model includes only the familiar basics: Touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste. But, humans can experience far richer sensory experiences and function in complex situations that engage other sensory systems. For instance, without our vestibular system and its sensory receptors called “hair cells,” we would have a much harder time maintaining our balance and not sliding down the icy McTavish street during the winter months. 

Proprioception is another sense that often goes unnoticed when discussing human sensory faculties, despite its crucial role in providing us with body awareness. Without the proprioceptive system’s mechanoreceptors—sensory receptors located in joints, tendons, and muscles, students would find it extremely challenging to navigate the busy Schulich library flooded with other stressed-out McGillians and errant spinny chairs. By acknowledging and understanding these additional senses, we gain a deeper appreciation for the marvels of human perception.

Your weekly 5 à 7 are not killing your neurons, and you have more than five senses

Now that you know only excessive alcohol consumption can cause serious neurological damage, you can enjoy your next drink at peace without worrying about any of your neurons dying as long as you put safety and responsible drinking first. The SciTech team hopes that you can also further appreciate your body’s incredible sensory systems and their expansive functions, from balance to proprioception. Stay tuned for the next installment of this series next semester with myth-busting in the areas of memory, intelligence, and love through the neuroscience lens.

Martlets, Men's Varsity, Sports

Redbirds and Martlets fear consequences of tuition hike on varsity sports

by Madigan McMahon on

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On Oct. 13, the Quebec government revealed its plan to raise tuition for out-of-province and international students. In the immediate aftermath, students flooded the streets of Montreal, protesting the proposed hike and fearing its consequences on their university experience. Shortly thereafter on Nov. 2, McGill University Principal and Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini outlined the major impacts, including a drop in annual enrollment revenue that could be disastrous to smaller faculties, job reductions, and the elimination of some varsity teams.

Following several meetings with Saini and Bishop’s and Concordia University presidents, the provincial government announced that the increased out-of-province tuition cost would decrease from $17,000 to $12,000, while the cost for international students remains the same. However, McGill still expects to lose 60 per cent of its out-of-province students. 

This loss will drastically affect collegiate sports teams. With McGill’s student body made up of 20 per cent out-of-province students and 30 per cent international students, many varsity teams are composed largely of students from outside of Quebec. As such, teams rely on recruiting students from out of province to not only fill their rosters, but fund their teams. With only level one varsity teams funded largely by the university, many level two, competitive club and recreational club teams rely on fundraising and player fees to function. Therefore, losing players from out-of-province will threaten many teams’ existence. Some teams will fall in jeopardy as their rosters largely rely on out of province athletes including fan-favourites such as the Redbirds lacrosse team,McGill artistic swimming, Martlets field hockey, and McGill rowing.  

Ontario-born lacrosse midfielder Luke Dawick raised major concerns about the future of McGill’s team. To him, McGill offers a great education, the opportunity to meet lifelong friends, and a chance to play a high level sport. However, without lacrosse, Dawick likely would not have attended McGill.

Dawick explained his shock when he heard the news of the tuition increases, and that the most serious impacts will come through the amount of players they will be able to recruit in the next few years. 

 “Coach Soubry is going to have a harder time recruiting players outside of Quebec, and that will definitely limit the talent that we have been able to bring in the past,” Dawick told The Tribune. 

This year, the team only had four Quebecers, with the rest of the 30 players coming from other Canadian provinces and the United States.

Field hockey midfielder and Vermonter Madeline Cohen,shared another perspective as her team faces a higher risk of being cut, despite being largely self-funded. 

“Knowing our status as a tier-two team and knowing how easy it was for us to be cut during COVID, that’s kind of when the realization set in,” Cohen told The Tribune.

Cohen expressed how the financial constraints would lead to a different demographic of people at McGill and how that could lead to an entirely different student experience in Montreal altogether. Considering the appeal of McGill from a prospective student, she said the choice would not be easy anymore.  

“I definitely would have had to think twice and weigh the pros and cons,” Cohen explained. “It would not have been this incredible opportunity for me, it would have definitely diminished the likelihood of coming here.”

While Media Relations Officer Frédérique Mazerolle emphasized to The Tribune that no definitive decisions have been made regarding varsity sports, it is clear that if the Quebec government implements the proposed tuition hikes, McGills’ teams will be affected. The Quebec government remains hostile towards eliminating the tuition hike entirely, leaving many varsity programs in a state of perpetual uncertainty. With anglophone universities comprising the majority of teams within several RSEQ divisions, some sports may be forced to look out of province for competition, forcing the future viability of Quebec university sports into question. 

Sports Editor and Martlets field hockey goalkeeper Anoushka Oke did not contribute to this article.

Science & Technology

Making scientific data accessible to all

by Ella Paulin on

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On Nov. 30, neuroscience and data-sharing experts came together for a day of insightful talks at The Neuro’s fifth annual Open Science in Action Symposium. Kicking off the event, Annabel Seyller, CEO of the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute (TOSI), emphasized the growing prevalence of open science across scientific institutions in Canada. 

“Open science is everywhere,” Seyller said. “I remind you that 2023 is the year of open science.”

She gave an overview of the day’s events before handing the microphone to Christopher Buddle, Associate Provost of Teaching and Academic Planning at McGill, who spoke about open science on the McGill campus—both among students and at institutions like The Neuro. Guy Rouleau, Director of The Neuro and co-founder of TOSI, expanded on these points and discussed the history of open science at McGill. 

“When TOSI was created in 2016, the idea was to crystallize open science practice at The Neuro, but also as a living lab for how to, at the institutional level, adopt open science practices,” Rouleau explained.

After these opening remarks, Vincent Larivière, inaugural UNESCO Chair in Open Science and professor of Information Science at Université de Montréal, delivered the keynote address. He spoke on a variety of issues surrounding scholarly publishing, including the difficulties of publishing open-access papers, changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the pressures that predatory publishers place on scientists. There was also a panel discussion, moderated by Viviane Poupon, President of Brain Canada, covering the potential of open science to accelerate drug discovery. 

The afternoon spotlighted a number of different initiatives—many of which that The Neuro has sponsored—that aim to engage in and promote open science, spanning various areas, such as data sharing, open-source software, and science communication. 

Gabriel Pelletier, Open Science Data Manager at TOSI and the moderator of the data-sharing session, highlighted that while these initiatives are of critical importance, implementing them is not always straightforward. 

“Data sharing and knowledge sharing is key to accelerate the pace of discovery in neurological diseases and in any domain really, but also has considerable challenges,” Pelletier said in his introduction. “It’s not easy. It takes time, knowledge, and expertise.”

Nikhil Bhagwat, a computational neuroscientist at McGill, addressed these difficulties in his presentation on ParkCore, a tool for sharing data on Parkinson’s disease. “In thinking about open science in Parkinson’s disease, we have to first accept the fact [that] it’s very hard,” Bhagwat said. “We all need more data. But the key word here is we need more open and harmonized data.”

Bhagwat explained that it was not always as simple as just sharing collected data with another scientist: Researchers need to make sure they’re both using the same protocols and software, even the same variable names. 

“What we really want is to be able to get the data and be able to use it without having to play this game of twenty questions with whoever is sharing data,” Bhagwat said. 

ParkCore helps to ease this process by centralizing and standardizing data on Parkinson’s disease in one easily accessible repository. 

Open science practices also include open-source software, referring to software with publicly available source code. This means that anyone can freely download it, and even build their own additions. At the next panel, researchers shared different open-source softwares with a focus on neuroscience, including a Python library called Pynapple, which collects a set of tools for neurological analysis. 

The day closed with several projects for science communication, highlighting that open science means sharing knowledge not just with other researchers, but with patients and the public as well. Panelists included Cindy Hovington, host of the Curious Neuron podcast, and Stuart Trenholm, associate professor in McGill’s Department of Neurology, who is involved in an ongoing project to create an interactive neuroscience textbook called The Open Brain. 

From patients to students to researchers, all of these projects are committed to sharing data, knowledge, and methods to improve the scientific process for everyone. 

Arts & Entertainment, Books, Internet

Goodreads Choice Awards prioritizes sameness over diversity

by Isobel Bray on

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Most people have heard of the Grammys and the Oscars, but unless you’re an avid reader, the Goodreads Choice Awards may be less well-known. Goodreads is a social media platform dedicated to books and those who read them. Since 2009, the website has hosted its annual Choice Awards, allowing users to vote on their favourite reads of the year. To qualify, the selected books must have been published within the voting year in the United States in English—although books in translation are included—and have an average rating between 3.50 and 5.00 stars. Voting happens in two rounds, opening with 20 books and cutting down to 10 in the final. This year, the voting started on Nov. 14, and the final winners will be revealed on Dec. 7. 

While I don’t always vote in every category, I still search through the nominees for titles to add to my ever-growing, overly optimistic to-read list. The categories usually encompass a variety of genres, from Historical Fiction to Horror, appealing to readers across the board. However, in an update on Nov. 12, Goodreads announced that their categories would be adjusted. 

Goodreads introduced the category of “Romantasy,” a subgenre of Fantasy with a prominent romantic subplot. This addition seems unnecessary given the pre-existing categories of Fantasy, Romance, and Young Adult Fantasy. However, the logic behind this decision makes sense. Romance and Romantasy have become especially popular on BookTok, a niche literary community on TikTok. Romantasy books typically follow Fantasy conventions but have simpler world-building—unlike many high fantasy novels—and a greater emphasis on romance, which contributes to their growing appeal.

Goodreads also decided to remove three categories: Children’s and Middle-Grade Fiction, Poetry, and Graphic Novels. This change has sparked outrage and confusion online, especially because these categories have suffered from low book sales in recent years. Additionally, recent reports reveal that kids in North America are reading less for pleasure, accompanied by a decrease in their reading scores, causing concern among publishers and librarians.

People have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their frustrations. User pagesofhayley writes: “Removing children’s/middle grade from the goodreads choice awards is making sure a whole age group for books won’t get visibility now.” Jnetalee says: “In a year where #kidlit is really struggling with book bans, you decide to eliminate middle grade, children’s, and graphic novels from the awards categories?”

These responses are justified, given that internet trends have increasingly influenced the literary world, making it harder for less popular genres to break into the mainstream. Removing categories geared toward young readers reduces the visibility of both authors and books. As a form that encourages self-expression, Poetry’s removal is also very concerning.

Faye Bender of The Book Group, a literary agency, posted a petition on Nov. 17 requesting Goodreads to reinstate Children’s and Middle Grade and Graphic Novels. The petition states, “If we don’t encourage and support younger readers by bolstering the visibility of books written and published for them, who will grow up to read adult books?”

Goodreads has also been criticized in recent years for awarding predominantly white authors. Unfortunately, the stories themselves are similarly lacking in diversity: this year’s Romance lineup—one of the most popular genres—is remarkably lacking in Black and Indigenous voices, writers of colour, and 2SLGBTQIA+ stories. This issue carries over from the predominantly white publishing industry, where a lack of diversity persists from hiring to acquisitions.

Goodreads influences what works readers are exposed to, and thus, what gets published. Last year’s Goodreads Awards saw over 5.7 million votes cast. By neglecting to highlight marginalized authors and underrepresented genres, the platform prevents them from getting the exposure they need to thrive. The industry has always been demand-driven, so if people express a desire for inclusivity, we can hope publishers will circulate more diverse works. If you’re looking to diversify your reading list in 2024, instead, start with these lists from Little Free Library, or ask your friends for their recommendations. The Goodreads awards should not be your place to start.

Student Life

Location, location, location: How to find your perfect neighbourhood

by Alex Alikakos on

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Looking for an apartment in Montreal is no easy feat for McGill students new to the city. The unrecognizable postal codes and streets mix together to form a jumble of numbers and letters. This challenge is magnified for students when the perceived perfect apartment often hinges solely on its proximity to the university. But, the area surrounding your future apartment is just as significant as its amenities. The atmosphere of the neighbourhood influences your daily life, so finding the perfect location can be different for everyone. 

Milton-Parc

If your top priority is proximity to campus, then Milton-Parc is the ideal choice. The allure of being within a five-minute walk to most McGill buildings is particularly enticing during the bone-chilling winter months, though this proximity does come at a cost—housing in the area can be relatively expensive compared to other areas in Montreal. 

Milton-Parc is a densely student-populated area, meaning that there are various student-centric cafés and businesses. However, this vibrant energy has a downside, as there may be heightened noise levels during student events such as Frosh Week. Yet, for most, this is outweighed by having all the essentials within a couple of blocks, allowing for time saving during peak exam season. 

Le Plateau-Mont-Royal 

Located roughly a 25-minute walk from campus, the Plateau offers the best of McGill at a slightly greater distance. The distance to and from campus allows you to enjoy a refreshing walk before you’re locked into a day of classes. You can also experience living outside of the McGill bubble. 

Home to some of the city’s oldest known food and drink institutions, the Plateau is home to an array of new coffee shops, boutiques, bakeries, and supermarkets, providing a blend of historical charm and modern conveniences. The lower Plateau’s artsy atmosphere renders it a desirable, albeit still relatively pricey, location to live.

Griffintown 

Griffintown is known amongst Montrealers as an up-and-coming district. Developers have recently begun the construction of many new residential buildings. While this creates many a modern living environment, it also contributes to the problem of gentrification. 

Located only a 15-minute metro ride to campus, it’s an easy walk to downtown and Old Port. Despite its prime location, Griffintown may not exude the same vibrant atmosphere as other neighbourhoods due to the impact of high development on the community. Nevertheless, it compensates with a different type of appeal, focusing on contemporary living and accessible pathways, making it a pragmatic choice for those seeking a balance between urban convenience and a quieter escape. 

Saint-Henri 

If you’re looking for a neighbourhood outside of the McGill bubble, then Saint-Henri is definitely one to consider. This area is packed with small parks and beautiful walking and bicycle paths that line the nearby canal, making it the ideal location for those who love taking walks close to home. 

Home to the year-round Atwater market, Saint-Henri offers the best of local and gourmet food and products. This neighbourhood, characterized by its mix of iconic Montreal institutions like the market and contemporary developments, captures the essence of Montreal’s dynamic urban landscape. 

The Village 

The Village, although slightly farther away from campus, is a neighbourhood that truly encapsulates Montreal’s dynamic and lively atmosphere. Via metro, you would have a convenient commute to campus in under 25 minutes. What sets the Village apart is its affordability, with rents more budget-friendly than neighbourhoods such as Milton-Parc. 

The Village harbours a predominantly young demographic, who fill the array of cafés, restaurants, shops, and bars located in the neighbourhood. The Village stands out by offering a lively community for those looking to embrace the city’s spirit beyond the campus boundaries.

McGill, News, Private, SSMU

Students take to the streets to oppose Quebec government’s proposed tuition hikes

by Galia Pakman Arrojo and Lily Cason on

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Red felt squares dappled McGill’s Y-intersection on Nov. 30, as students gathered to once again protest the Quebec government’s proposed tuition hikes for English-speaking universities. The hikes, announced on Oct. 13, would nearly double fees for out-of-province students at schools like McGill and Concordia from around $9,000 to $17,000 annually. The proposal would also increase international students’ tuition fees to a minimum of $20,000 per year. 

According to the Quebec government, the increased fees would go toward funding French-language universities, and the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) has stated that the change is a response to the threatened state of the French language in the province.

McGill has claimed that these hikes would severely jeopardize the university, and has announced an immediate hiring freeze in an attempt to combat the financial impacts. In university-wide messages, Principal and Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini has decried the hikes, stating that they would have far-ranging impacts “from a drop in the number of students and important revenue losses, to devastating consequences for some Faculties and a suspension or re-evaluation of some major infrastructure projects.”

McGill did not reply to The Tribune’s request for comment before the publication deadline. 

According to La Presse, the CAQ is now considering implementing a 33 per cent increase for out-of-province students rather than the original near-doubling of fees. The minimum of $20,000 per year for international students would be maintained.

The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU), the Quebec Public Interest Research Group at McGill (QPIRG McGill), QPIRG Concordia, and the Concordia Student Union (CSU) collaborated to put on a week of activities and events related to the tuition hikes leading up to Thursday’s protest. On Nov. 27, a petition signed by over 33,000 people was sent to the National Assembly, demanding that the Quebec government rescind the proposed tuition hike.

At the Y-intersection, McGill students gathered around a banner that read “Squarely in the red, Carrément dans le rouge”—a phrase that protesters popularized during mobilizations in 2005 against proposed changes to loans and bursaries for students. The red squares have made multiple comebacks since 2005, including during 2012 student strikes that successfully dissolved proposed tuition hikes. At Thursday’s protest, organizers again handed out red felt squares along with informational flyers to encourage passersby to join the rally.

Protestor Hannah Marder-MacPherson, U2 Science spoke to The Tribune about why she feels that the CAQ’s measures are problematic and threaten the accessibility of education in the province. 

“There’s so many students who are working really hard, have got great marks, who have the potential to go off and do great things, who just won’t be able to afford going here [….] I think that’s problematic in a lot of ways, because we already have a huge disparity in terms of wealth and class, especially with access to education,” Marder-MacPherson said. 

Many of the individuals protesting were from programs that are disproportionately at risk if the government’s proposed hikes go into effect, including the Schulich School of Music and varsity teams, as both have a large number of out-of-province students. 

Joseph Liang, U1 Music and Music Undergraduate Students’ Association VP Internal, voiced his fears for the future of the Music program if the proposed tuition hikes were to go through. 

“The faculty council meeting […] projected that we’d lose a ton of funding, we wouldn’t be able to hire new staff, the proportion of graduate students would increase and undergrads would decrease,” Liang said. “I’d like to be able to keep the music school alive because it’s a really vibrant program and we like the way that it contributes to the scene of Montreal cultural life.”

The Tribune spoke with SSMU Vice President (VP) External Liam Gaither at the Y-intersection. Gaither voiced frustration over the lack of student consent in the government’s proposal and explained why the students’ union seeks to mobilize students around accessible education.

“We’re really mobilized on this because we have mandates that continue from the last time that tuition came under threat in 2012 and 2015, and even 2005 and before that,” Gaither said. “Mandates at the SSMU are basically twofold: One is we oppose [non]consensual tuition hikes in any form, and we believe in the work towards free education—that is the eventual goal.”

Gaither expressed that a 33 per cent tuition increase, while smaller, is still unacceptable. 

“This is how the CAQ rolls, this is very classic: they put out a massive number, and then they’re like, ‘Okay, maybe we’ll just do it a little bit,’” Gaither said. “They’re hoping that we back off, they’re hoping that we don’t take further action, they’re hoping that we drop our arms now, but we’re not ready to do that, we’re going to continue pushing, because the mandate is not to only let education increase by 30 per cent, the mandate is to fight for free education.”

Shortly after speeches came to a close, the crowd moved toward Sherbrooke to meet with Concordia students that organizers had coordinated with. 

As the crowds representing each university merged at the Roddick Gates, The Tribune spoke to Robin Moore, BSc’ 23, who is from Montreal and expressed what he saw as the futility of the CAQ’s proposed tuition changes. 

“I don’t think [the tuition hikes] are an effective measure, because the students will just go to schools elsewhere in Canada, and it takes away the opportunity to bring in more people to actually learn French and get engaged in the Quebec culture,” Moore argued. “So if anything, it just takes away the opportunity for [the Quebec government] to expand the French population base in Canada.”

In the merged crowd of about 150, students and professors alike from both universities held signs and banged on pots and pans with spoons as music played. “Solidarité avec les étudiants” was a common chant as the group proceeded down Sherbrooke. “I am Quebecoise and even I am affected,” read one sign. 

The Tribune spoke to Concordia students in the crowd; among them was Hannah Jackson, External Affairs and Mobilization Coordinator for the CSU. She reaffirmed the importance of mobilizing against the proposed tuition hikes, and pointed to the ripple effects that the proposal would cause within universities and throughout Montreal.

“A lot of grassroots activist groups—like Solidarity Across Borders, that fight for the rights of undocumented immigrants—they get funding from the universities, they get funding from QPIRGs, they get funding from student grant applications, and so actually, what we reduce [in] the budget of the university will also reduce the budget of the student unions. We will reduce the budget of these fee levies, and then also all of the grassroots community groups that rely on that funding to exist will also be affected,” Jackson said.

Jackson also spoke about the roughly 1,000 Concordia students who are currently on strike over the proposed tuition hikes. Ryan Assaker, a student in Concordia’s School of Community and Public Affairs, is one of them. His department voted to strike from classes on the day of the protest, and has planned for an additional three-day strike from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2. 

“I’m a Quebec resident, French is my first language, but […] these measures are austerity hidden behind language rights [….] It’s not actually about language rights.” Assaker said.

The protest ended at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM), where UQÀM students greeted the Concordia and McGill protesters and welcomed them inside the auditorium for more speeches and warm drinks.

“[The proposed tuition hikes are] going to affect […] the entire fabric of Montreal as a city,” Jackson said. “Because a lot of the vibrancy comes from the multicultural nature of the city, and also the people who come from other places and work and study and contribute to this beautiful city and this province.”

Editorial, Opinion

2023 SSMU executive midterm reviews

by The Tribune Editorial Board on

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The Tribune’s editorial board presents its midterm reviews of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) executives. Tribune editors researched and communicated with each executive before leading an editorial board discussion on the executives’ work and accomplishments. Editors with conflicts of interest abstained from discussing, writing, and editing relevant reviews.

President: Alexandre Ashkir

Ashkir ran on a platform focused on policy reform, increased accessibility of SSMU support and resources, and transparency. While Ashkir has little to point to in terms of achieving these goals, he says that this is due to his position requiring that he prioritize supporting all other executives. He also said that many of his goals, such as reforming SSMU policies, take longer than a semester to accomplish. Although he has yet to make policy changes, he is working with the Governance Reform Committee to create clearer and more institutionalized policies within SSMU. He aims to finish these projects by the end of the year or to set out a work plan for his successor. Ashkir has been able to slightly expand the SSMU Grocery Program, which his predecessor Risann Wright launched, and hopes to integrate it within a larger coalition of food accessibility programs on campus. One of Ashkir’s biggest accomplishments of the semester has been the steps taken toward increasing SSMU’s transparency. At the beginning of the year, he spearheaded a meeting with student media and created more accessible and reliable avenues for contact. He plans to increase transparency, hoping to regain student trust and engagement with SSMU. Overall, Ashkir has made good progress on his goals given the time constraints; however, as he goes forward, having more specific plans would be an asset to himself and his constituents.

VP Student Life: Nadia Dakdouki

Going into this position, Dakdouki sought to boost engagement with SSMU, increase clubs’ visibility, and ultimately improve students’ and student groups’ experiences interacting with the Society. Her biggest challenge so far has been initiating new projects while both she and SSMU have been overloaded with work. That said, she put together a very successful Activities Night, organized an Activities Night Lite, and created a Clubs Guidebook. She has also maintained good communication with students via office hours, event advertising, emails, and the Vice President (VP) Student Life Instagram. Additionally, Dakdouki is helping to develop a financial how-to guide for clubs, creating a SSMU insurance guide for students, and starting a student volunteer program at the SSMU daycare. In the winter semester, Dakdouki plans to run more club events and will bring back Mental Health Action Week. She is also looking into creating a relaxation area on campus, as well as new mental health services with Keep.meSAFE that would be tailored to students affected by the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. As was mentioned in her campaign, she hopes to increase in-class announcements and student group tabling. So far, Dakdouki has made strides in bolstering student groups while mental health and family care, which are also under her portfolio, seem to have been given less attention; this will be resolved if Dakdouki accomplishes what she has planned for this upcoming semester.

VP Finance: Amina Kudrati-Plummer

Following the resignation of former VP Finance Alice Fang in Aug. 2023, SSMU held a by-election resulting in the election of Kudrati-Plummer on Oct. 20 with 60.6 per cent of the vote. Kudrati-Plummer underwent two weeks of training and only officially assumed the position on Nov. 13. SSMU had to divide the responsibilities of the VP Finance position between the other executives prior to Nov. 13, meaning that Kudrati-Plummer is still consolidating her responsibilities in the role. Kudrati-Plummer has a clear vision for reforming SSMU’s internal accounting processes. Improving financial transparency within SSMU is her main goal, an endeavour she believes is crucial to restoring the student base’s faith in the governing body. She also hopes to develop cost-saving programs for students to alleviate financial stressors and re-evaluate the SSMU’s internal accounting process, specifically concerning tracking services and budgets. Regarding complaints from SSMU clubs about difficulties accessing their finances, Kudrati-Plummer explained that this is due to issues with the Royal Bank of Canada—SSMU’s bank—that SSMU cannot directly control. She further explained that this went unaddressed before she stepped into the position, as immediate tasks such as re-budgeting and SSMU’s financial audit needed to be prioritized. With improving the current banking system as her top priority, Kudrati-Plummer will hopefully be able to address this pressing issue next semester.  The Tribune sees these goals as critical, especially given the SSMU’s claims of “financial peril” that prompted the request for a 71 per cent base fee increase in the fall referendum. The Tribune hopes that Kudrati-Plummer will emphasize financial transparency and accessibility in the coming months.

VP External: Liam Gaither

Gaither’s main priority going into this position was to ensure that SSMU would be able to continue supporting groups on campus and aiding in student mobilization efforts. He cites the creation of the Community Solidarity Fund fee—a $1 opt-outable fee that feeds a discretionary fund for social justice-oriented individuals and groups—as External Affairs’ biggest accomplishment of the fall semester. To promote off-campus volunteering opportunities, Gaither revived the Community Engagement Day, which took place on Oct. 26 and featured around 30 organizations from the greater Montreal area. An important part of Gaither’s work has focused on mobilizing students against tuition hikes. On the week of Nov. 20, a successful petition calling for the cancellation of tuition increases for out-of-province students that he participated in writing gathered more than 30,000 signatures and was sent to the Quebec National Assembly. This work will carry into the coming months, with an emphasis on building a better sense of student solidarity on campus. The External Affairs department will also bring forward two policies next semester: A food security policy to make the issue more actionable by executives and a union solidarity policy to provide the department with an official mandate to work with unions on campus. However, initiatives aimed at creating links between organizations on campus have been lacking, and a focus on strengthening relations between groups would be an asset in mobilizing students.

VP University Affairs: Lalia Katchelewa

The VP University Affairs is responsible for facilitating relations between the SSMU and the McGill administration, supporting and furthering equity and student advocacy as well as fostering academic innovation in the library. During her campaign, Katchelewa emphasized advocating for food security, menstrual health, and supporting student advocacy. However, she has only been able to partially stick to these goals, mainly strengthening food security initiatives on campus. A significant hurdle Katchelewa has faced is the bureaucracy and power structure of the McGill administration. In the second part of her term, Katchelewa hopes to further press the administration to take action on several critical issues facing students—especially food insecurity. She aims to foster collaboration between faculties as well as other institutions by organizing an inter-faculties summit and cooperating with the Concordia Student Union. Similarly, Katchelewa would like to double down on student outreach. She emphasized the need to be more accessible and visible on campus and proposed tabling at football games to better engage with the community. She says that the “corporate aspect” of the SSMU, as she calls it, often conflicts with its union role, and that she has been working towards striking a just balance between both. As her portfolio encompasses crucial political components, such as sitting on the Indigenous Affairs Committee, the Francophone Affairs Committee, and the Black Affairs Committee, her lack of clear accomplishments and attention to these matters is concerning. The Tribune urges Katchelewa to increase transparency on the equity and advocacy initiatives and support she provides to students.

VP Sustainability and Operations: Hassanatou Koulibaly 

After serving as last year’s VP Student Life, Koulibaly returned to the SSMU executive team this year, taking on the newly-reinstated VP Sustainability and Operations role which has not been filled since 2017. She ran on a platform that promised a thorough and thoughtful reestablishment of the role’s portfolio, an expansion of MiniCourses, and ensuring clubs follow the SSMU sustainability mandate. Koulibaly returned to SSMU prepared; although she effectively trained herself in this renewed role, she has been responsive and proactive. Already, she has laid the groundwork for athletic insurance in the SSMU building, a Gerts ambassador program starting in the Winter term, and auditing SSMU spaces to ensure clubs can operate. While Koulibaly is clearly on top of the operations aspect of her role, she had less precise action plans for integrating sustainability into executives’ portfolios. Hopefully, now that the VP Finance role has been filled, Koulibaly can better estimate sustainable resource management and put equal emphasis on that aspect of her role. 

VP Internal: Jon Barlas

As part of the VP Internal mandate of community and communication, one of Barlas’ main priorities throughout his campaign was to increase the accessibility of SSMU events by breaking away from their traditional alcohol-centred parties. In line with this goal, he organized two highly successful dry events: A Friday the 13th movie night and a thrift flip. In addition, he has worked to increase SSMU’s accountability by holding weekly travelling office hours in the Arts Undergraduate Society, Management Undergraduate Society, and Engineering Undergraduate Society offices. This has allowed Barlas to meet executives and students alike and answer their questions about SSMU. Barlas has also worked to improve alumni relations, which he did not feel were well-handled by previous VP Internal Cat Williams, by sitting on the McGill Alumni-Student Engagement Council and working with the Scarlet Key Society. Overall, Barlas is performing well in his role. Going forward, he aims to continue planning accessible events in collaboration with interfaculty organizations and hopes to create a SSMU Wiki, inspired by the EUS Wiki, to share resources with students.

Editorial, Opinion

2023 PGSS executive midterm reviews

by The Tribune Editorial Board on

More in Editorial:

The Tribune’s editorial board presents its midterm reviews of the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) executives. Tribune editors researched and communicated with each executive before leading an editorial board discussion on the executives’ work and accomplishments. Editors with conflicts of interest abstained from discussing, writing, and editing relevant reviews.

Secretary-General: Satish Kumar Tumulu

Tumulu has been the PGSS Secretary-General since June 24 and is in charge of representing PGSS to other university bodies, including the McGill Senate and Board of Governors, overseeing the PGSS governance documents, and chairing the executive committee. He entered the position concerned that students were not able to get in touch with their PGSS representatives when they needed to and believes that PGSS has successfully improved communication with constituents during his tenure. Tumulu sees funding as one of the most pressing issues facing post-graduate students—PGSS’ recently-published 2022-2023 McGill Graduate Student Funding Report states that 88 per cent of McGill graduate students make “less than a sustainable income”—and advocates for better funding and grant opportunities for post-graduate students. He also meets with the Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill—which is currently bargaining with McGill over a new collective agreement for teaching assistants—to stay up to date on their work. Next semester, Tumulu has important goals to tackle: He hopes to increase attendance at the Feb. 7 General Meeting (GM), as this semester’s GM did not reach quorum, to tackle structural issues within the Society, and to potentially simplify the insurance process for students. Tumulu’s goal of increasing funding and grant opportunities for post-graduate students is crucial; The Tribune urges further coalition-building and the wielding of Tumulu’s spots on McGill’s highest governing bodies to better students’ working and living conditions, and to hold the university administration accountable. 

External Affairs Officer: Ansley Gnanapragasam

As External Affairs Officer, Gnanapragasam aims to enhance the organization’s involvement in provincial and federal political affairs. His noteworthy accomplishments include fostering ties with other student unions, like the Concordia Student Union, and exploring PGSS re-joining the Quebec Student Union. Gnanapragasam has initiated discussions on student and research funding, with a potential town hall with a Member of Parliament in the works. His main priorities for the upcoming semester are continuing ongoing projects and establishing “interdisciplinary inter-university sessions,” such as a case competition across various Quebec universities. Gnanapragasam explained that PGSS avoids taking firm stances on global political issues, such as the ongoing conflict in Gaza, to avoid stoking tensions among a diverse student population. Ongoing and future initiatives include addressing French translation costs and exploring collaborations with other universities while balancing both francophone and anglophone student needs. Looking forward to the next half of his term, Gnanapragasam emphasized careful planning as he is diligently working on completing the projects that he has undertaken to ensure that all McGill graduate students feel adequately represented. Overall, Gnanapragasam’s work to build connections and improve funding is important, but The Tribune calls for PGSS to reconsider its position on political statements and take a stand for human rights when geopolitical crises arise.

Internal Affairs Officer: Cindy García

The Internal Affairs Officer is in charge of organizing and marketing PGSS events in response to constituent feedback, overseeing the PGSS orientation, communicating with Post-Graduate Students’ Associations, and recruiting to PGSS committees. García recently assumed the role on Nov. 6 and has been focused on going through student feedback and brainstorming events in her first weeks on the job. Next semester, García hopes to run events with a focus on environmental, financial, and social sustainability and is particularly focused on finding ways to better immerse post-graduate students in the university community. While she is still in her first weeks on the job and knows she still has a lot to learn—for example, about student unions’ advocacy around tuition hikes—García’s commitment to catering to students’ needs, listening to feedback, and sustainability are admirable.

Financial Affairs Officer: Faezeh Pazoki

As Financial Affairs Officer, Pazoki has undertaken responsibilities pivotal to the organization’s financial health. Pazoki’s overarching goals have focused on optimizing the PGSS budget for equity and inclusion, notably implementing transparency measures such as including monthly budget actuals in her council reports. Her accomplishments this semester include successful crowdfunding for travel awards and need-based bursaries, demonstrating effective budget management without resorting to fee increases. Challenges, such as navigating the effects of inflation as well as Memorandum of Agreement negotiations with Macdonald Campus Graduate Student Society, were met with careful planning and collaborative approaches. As her term concludes in December 2023, Pazoki is prioritizing a seamless transition for the incoming Financial Affairs Officer. It is imperative that the transparency Pazoki has created through tangible action continues under the next Financial Affairs Officer. 

Member Services Officer: Sabrina Yusuf

The PGSS Member Services Officer manages services offered to PGSS members and issues related sustainability. They are responsible for the Grants Program, the Member Legal Defence Fund, the Health and Dental Insurance Plan, and the PGSS annual handbook. At the start of her term, Yusuf hoped to bring back services that had been cut during the pandemic and strengthen the PGSS’s health and dental insurance coverage. However, she came into her role not knowing the full extent of how nuanced insurance is, and found it challenging to find an option that balanced the need for more complete coverage with the need for affordability. Even without any changes, the insurance plan has become more expensive annually for the past few years because of the sheer volume of claims that have been put in, especially those related to mental health. Yusuf has been looking into ways to prevent students from needing to put in so many claims, including the possibility of offering different providers to provide telehealth psychotherapy—making it not only less costly but more accessible to students in general. Yusuf has also been involved in PGSS’s transition from Desjardins to a new insurer, GreenShield, which she noted was not as smooth as the team would have liked. In this process, she noticed the need for transparency with PGSS members, and has been working to keep members informed on the switch, why they made it, problems that arose and their solutions, and any other updates. As a part of this initiative, she helps run a town hall focusing on the insurer transition, which PGSS publicized through their listserv, flyers, their website, and presidents of different Post-Graduate Students’ Associations. Yusuf wants to focus on improved transparency within the Society for the rest of her term. She also works directly with the BIPOC Coordinator, the International Student Caucus, and the Mental Health Coordinator in supporting students affected by ongoing geopolitical crises.

University Affairs Officer: Racchana Ramamurthy

As University Affairs Officer, Ramamurthy takes on a host of responsibilities to ensure that graduate students’ voices are heard at all levels of the university. Coming into the semester, Ramamurthy’s main priorities included improving graduate student funding and rectifying issues with supervisors—both of which she has made significant progress on. Her biggest accomplishment to date is her success in garnering the McGill administration’s acceptance of the recommendations detailed in the 2022-2023 McGill Graduate Student Funding Report, developed by the Funding Working Group. The accepted recommendations include providing students who receive external awards with a 10 per cent increase in funding, encouraging supervisors to provide cash advances for conference fees and speeding up reimbursements, and working towards ensuring that all students receive the provincial minimum wage rate. Ramamurthy strives to educate constituents on the avenues available to them to address issues with supervisors, including using the required progress tracking system to report bad conduct by supervisors. Ramamurthy has also done an impressive job advancing the interests of graduate students within the university administration and moving forward, she hopes to address communication issues that have led to a lack of recruitment for university committees. Given her success on the funding front, recruitment should be a priority in the upcoming semester to ensure that all student voices are represented.

Montreal, News, The Tribune Explains

The Tribune Explains: Quebec’s public sector strikes and what they mean for students

by Jules Pissembon on

More in Montreal:

With 800 schools closed indefinitely, CÉGEPs shut down, almost a thousand surgical procedures postponed, and operating rooms limited to 70 per cent capacity, Quebec’s public sector strikes are clearly causing disruption. But what are the origins of this strike? And how does it impact students?

Why are public sector workers striking?

Nearly 570,000 Quebec public sector workers have joined forces to demand higher wages and better working conditions. Four unions spearheaded the mobilization—the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN), the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ), the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ), and the Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux (APTS)—who have come together to form the Front commun, representing nearly 420,000 workers. 

The Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ) and the Fédération autonome de l’enseignement (FAE), represent an additional 80,000 and 65,000 public sector employees respectively; both of which have decided to negotiate separately from the Front commun, but are also on strike. 

The Front commun demands higher wages and stronger benefits, as employees’ living conditions have been severely affected by the rising inflation. To achieve this, they are proposing a three-year contract with annual salary increases linked to the rate of inflation. These increases would raise salaries by two per cent in the first year, or $100 a week, followed by an increase of one per cent a year until the third year. 

What are the recent developments of the strike?

On Nov. 29, after a “constructive” meeting with Sonia LeBel—the minister responsible for Government Administration and President of the Conseil du trésor—failed to make any major headway, the Front commun announced seven new strike days, from Dec. 8 to 14, and affirmed that the next step would be an unlimited general strike. The FIQ will follow, with strikes from Dec. 11 to 14. The FAE commenced an unlimited strike on Nov. 23 and seems determined not to give up. The stated aim is to sign a principal agreement before the holidays, hence the growing pressure on the government.

How has the public responded to the strikes?

Even as Quebec residents are experiencing impacts directly from these strikes, locals overwhelmingly support this mobilization. According to a SOM poll conducted between Nov. 17 and 20, 78 per cent of Quebec residents support the public sector strikes, compared to only 12 per cent supporting the government’s approach. 

In an interview with The Tribune, François Enault, first vice-president of the CSN, explained that the public sector can continue to rely on public support for strikes and expressed confidence over the current dynamics of the negotiations between the unions and Quebec government.

“The public will continue to support us. Right now, if I were in government, I’d be more nervous about public support for the government than for the workers,” Enault said.  “The balance of power [between the union forces and the Quebec government] is very good. It hasn’t been this good for years.”

How do the strikes affect McGill and its community?

In a written statement to The Tribune, McGill media relations officer Frédérique Mazerolle explained that while Quebec public sector strikes do not directly affect McGill employees, the strikes may affect staff’s private lives. 

“It is conceivable that [the public sector strikes] could have consequences for the professional performance of McGill employees, particularly in terms of managing family obligations,” Mazerolle wrote. “In these circumstances, the University encourages employees to communicate their needs and challenges with their immediate supervisor.”

Antonina Nikolaev, U2 Arts, VP Finance of the History Students’ Association (HSA), and President of the McGill Polish Students’ Association (MPSA), believes that these strikes are affecting all students at McGill, as the entire Montreal community is feeling more strain in its public service sectors. 

“The Quebec public sector strikes affect McGillians and their access to services such as healthcare, which already had long wait lists and waiting periods,” Nikolaev wrote. “This can seriously affect McGillian’s health, mental wellbeing and time management, and having all this happen right around finals season is all the more stressful.”
All Front Commun unions will convene their governing bodies on Dec. 18 and 19 to take stock of the situation.

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